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1. GOVERNMENT & ITS TYPES
What is Government?
 The word ‘Government’ is taken from the origin or root word “Govern”; means to exercise
authority, so we can say that government is an organization through which the political
authority is exercised in society. In other words, government is a type of organization or
institution that people set up to protect the community and make the law and to enforce its
rules is a government. Finally, we can say that government is an organization of law-making
and law enforcement; the form and institutions by which law and order are developed and
maintained in a society. Government is necessary to the existence of civilized society.
Government is the exercise of control or authority over a group of people.
What does a government do?
 Protects the community
 Makes laws
 Keeps order
Why do people need government?
 For protection of people and property
 Making rules
 Enforcing laws
THE TYPES OF GOVERNMENT
 There are several forms or types of government which are explained as follows:
1. Democracy
2. Monarchy
3. Dictatorship
4. Republicanism (Republic)
5. Theocracy
6. Totalitarianism
7. Oligarchy
8. Anarchy
9. Autocracy
10. Federalism
11. Communism
12. Fascism
13. Confederation (Federation)
14. Authoritarianism
1. DEMOCRACY::
 In its literal sense, the word democracy comes from ancient Greek words meaning ‘people
and specifies the rule of people’ and ‘rule of government’. It is a system of government of a
country whose leaders have been elected by the people. When the elected representatives
meet in parliament to make laws, the form of government is a parliamentary democracy. In
other words, in a democracy, ordinary citizens hold supreme power because all
government decisions ultimately come from the people. Finally, we can say that In a
democracy, the government is elected by the people. Everyone who is eligible to vote has a
chance to have his or her say over who runs the country. In a democracy, the government
gets its authority from the people. In a democracy, the people have certain basic rights.
 Democracy is of two types;

2. GOVERNMENT & ITS TYPES
1. Direct Democracy:
 It is type of democracy in which the people govern themselves by voting on the issues. In
other words, Direct democracy, also called pure democracy, forms of direct participation
of citizens in democratic decision making, vote on, form consensus on policy initiatives
directly. It usually involves periodically held free elections. Finally, we can say that Direct
Democracy is a form of government in which all laws are created by a general vote of
society or people. Examples of Direct Democracy; Ancient Athens, Switzerland, and the
United States are the most prominent example of direct democracy in which Citizens
have more power than in a representative democracy.
2. Representative Democracy:
 A Representative Democracy is also called Indirect Democracy is a system where citizens
of a country vote for government representatives to handle legislation and ruling the
country on their behalf. Here the people select representatives to make decisions for
them. Countries like Canada, the United States of America and the United Kingdom all
have representative democracies. In US people elect a president and members of
Congress. Also, elect local officials and state officials.
CHATATERISTICS OF DEMOCRACY
1. Individual Liberty:
 Freedom to act as one wishes as long as it doesn’t bring harm to another person.
 Everyone has an equal opportunity and right.
2. Majority Rules:
 Government decisions are based on the will of the majority.
 It does not allow the will of the majority to rule over the minority.
3. Free Selections:
 The right of the people to have free and open elections.
 Ensures that the public officials listen to the will of the people.
 In free election:
 Everyone’s vote carries the same weight (one person, one vote)
 Candidates can express their views free even if the criticize the current government.
 Citizens can help candidates without fear.
 Discrimination can’t occur as long as voting requirements are met.
 Citizens may vote freely and on a secret ballot.
4. Competing Political Parties:
 Political Party group of people with board common interests who organize to:
 Nominates candidates
 Win elections
 Conduct government
 Determine public policy
 Rival parties help to make elections meaningful by offering choices.
 Provide an opposition to the party in power.
CHATATERISTICS OF DEMOCRACY
True Democracy Exits When:
 Favorable Economy; power to control your own economic life.
 Widespread Education; a literate public will allow government to function better.
 A Social Consensus; people accept democratic values of individual liberty and equality.

3. GOVERNMENT & ITS TYPES
2. MONARCHY::
 A monarchy is a form of government led by an individual or one person, who holds the
position for life, having inherited the position, and who passes it on to a relative, usually a
son or daughter or it passes from generation to generation. A King, Queen, emperor, or
sultan fulfills their role as supreme ruler by surrounding themselves with people who will
help them govern. Countries with Monarchy form are; Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Kingdom
and so on. In other words, a monarchy is a form of government led by an individual who
holds the position for life, having inherited the position, and who passes it on to a relative,
usually a son or daughter. Finally, we can say that in a monarchy, a hereditary ruler controls
the government and decides what it should do. Monarch is of two types:
1. Absolute Monarchy:
 The monarch or system of government that holds great power and make all of
the decisions and laws of the country and rules all aspects of the society. Rulers
in monarchies often claimed that they came to their position by “divine right” or
by the will of God. This divine right gave the king or queen absolute power. The
citizens under the monarch did not have any rights unless they were granted to
them by the monarch. Absolute Monarchy examples are; Saudi Arabia, Vatican
City, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and so forth.
2. Constitutional Monarchy:
 Constitutional monarchy, system of government in which a monarch shares
power with a constitutionally organized government. Or, Constitutional Monarch
also has a democratic government that limits the monarch's control. Today
constitutional monarchies are mostly associated with Western European
countries such as the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Denmark,
Spain, Japan, and Sweden and so on. Today most monarchs act as Head of State,
filling a ceremonial role with little or no power regarding the actual governing of
the country. A constitutional monarchy is a country which has a written
Constitution that sets out the rules for how the country will be governed and the
rights and responsibilities of its people, and has a
3. DICTATORSHIP (Ruled by a single person)::
This term, stemming from the Latin word meaning “To declare.” Dictatorship is a form of
government in which a country or a group of countries is ruled by one person or by a polity,
and power is exercised through various mechanisms to ensure that the entity's power
remains strong. In a dictatorship, power rests in the hands of an individual or a small group
that tells everyone else what to do. Dictatorship is characterized by the absolute rule of one
person or a very small group of people who hold all political power. Finally, we can say that;
In a dictatorship, one person, called a Dictator, has absolute power. This differs from
totalitarianism in that it is less controlling and not marked by a rigid set of beliefs. Sometimes
a country run by dictatorship may be called a republic. Such republics have only one political
party and the Dictator makes most government policies and decisions. The most predominant
examples of Dictatorship are; North Korea Kim II Sung causing the death of around 3 million
people, Kim Il Sung was the communist dictator of North Korea for 49 years. He killed all of
the officers and rivals that fought alongside him in the Korean War, a war he started. Saddam
Hussein of Iraq instituted mass genocide. An estimated 2 million people died at his hand.
Adolf Hitler the leader of the Nazi Party of Germany responsible for the death of 17 million

4. GOVERNMENT & ITS TYPES
people. Josef Stalin responsible for more than 23 million deaths, Stalin was one of the evil
dictators of the world of Soviet Union Russia. Pol Pot the Cambodia communist dictator is
responsible for torturing and killing the majority of Cambodians, an estimated 1 to 3 million
people, or 25 to 35 percent of the country.
4. REPUBLICANISM (REPUBLIC)::
 A republic is a country that has no monarch. The head of the country is usually an elected
president. In other words, we can say that a republic is a form of government in which the
country is considered a "public matter", not the private concern or property of the rulers.
Republicanism is republic is a country whose head of government is an elected or
chosen president. Sometimes the president is also the Head of State, for example the
President of the United States. Presidents are usually elected for a specific length of time.
This is called a ‘term of office’. In some countries a president may only serve a particular
number of terms. A republic may or may not be democratic. In a democratic republic, the
people choose their leaders through elections, although in countries where the president
is a ceremonial role, it may be by government appointment rather than by election. In
some undemocratic republics the leaders are chosen by a small number of people and
may stay in office for a long time, sometimes without ever being elected or re-elected.
The term "republic" as used today refers to a representative democracy with an elected
head of state, such as a president, serving for a limited term. Even in a republic, it's the
voice of the majority that rules through chosen representatives; however, there is a
charter or constitution of basic rights that protects the minority from being completely
unrepresented or overridden. Examples are; Pakistan (Iskandar Mirza) ,
Afghanistan(Daoud Khan’s time) , Somalia, Iraq, Yemen, Sudan and so on.
5. THEOCRACY::
 Theocracy – a form of government where the rulers claim to be ruling on behalf of a set of
religious ideas, or as direct agents of a deity. In a theocracy, religious leaders control
government. A Theocracy is a form of government that is led by a person or persons
who claim to rule by divine authority. The word theocracy is a compound word using
“Theos” (Greek for God) and “Cracy” (rule, strength or government).
 Although there is much debate as to which states or groups operate strictly according to
Islamic Law, Sharia is the official basis for state laws in the following
countries: Afghanistan, Iran, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Yemen. Ali Khamenei,
Supreme Leader of Iran, is the country's leading political and religious figure The Islamic
Republic of Iran is a revolutionary theocratic state. Afghanistan. Afghanistan is an Islamic
state with a theocratic government.
6. TOTALITARIANISM (Ruled by a single party)::
 Totalitarianism is a political system where the state recognizes no limits to its authority
and strives to regulate every aspect of public and private life wherever feasible. In a
totalitarian society, the government holds absolute control over all aspects of the lives of its
people. A set of beliefs is imposed on the people, who have to conform or face unpleasant
consequences. This form of government came into being in the 1920s when the Fascist
governments of Italy and Nazi Germany came into power. In Totalitarianism rule by a single
political party. Votes for alternative candidates and parties are simply not allowed. Citizens
are allowed and ‘encouraged’ to vote, but only for the government’s China chosen candidates.

5. GOVERNMENT & ITS TYPES
7. OLIGARCHY:
 Oligarchy An oligarchy is a form of government in which only a few wealthy people
hold power. A republic may be an oligarchy if just a few people have the right to vote.
An example of this was the time of apartheid in South Africa. In most oligarchies, the
power of the leadership is supported by the wealthy and the military. Or Oligarchy is
a form of government by the few, sometimes a government in which a small group
exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes and the citizen has a very
limited role. These people might be distinguished by nobility, wealth, family ties,
education or corporate, religious or military control. Communism , Totalitarianism,
Military Dictatorship, Theocracy (Republic of China, North Korea, Venezuela, Iran)
 Finally, we can say that no government is literally an oligarchy the word is from the
Greek term for “rule of the few”, but that description is used often to refer to the fact
that a nation’s wealthiest people generally have an inordinate influence on
governance because of their ties to elected officials. The implication is that a
government so influenced is corrupt and predicated on the oligarchy’s self-interest.
8. ANARCHY:
 Anarchy is from the Greek word meaning “no rule” and refers to a society without
government. Because this is an impractical if not impossible condition, it is generally
used in a looser sense of chaos. Anarchy is the state of disorder due to absence or
non-recognition of authority or other controlling systems. Finally, we can say that
anarchy is a state of society without government or law. Political and social disorder
due to the absence of governmental control: The death of the king was followed by a
year of anarchy. Somalia is the only country in the world where there is no
government, but the new government tries and prepares to restore order.
9. AUTOCRACY:
 Autocracy is a form of government in which one person possesses unlimited power and the
citizen has little if any role in the government. An autocracy is a system of government in which
supreme power (social and political) is concentrated in the hands of one person, whose
decisions are subject to neither external legal restraints nor regularized mechanisms of popular
control (except perhaps for the implicit threat of a coup d'état or mass insurrection). Examples
are Sadaam Hussain, Mamar Gadhfi, and Adolf Hitler. Absolute Monarchy, Dictatorship,
Fascism, Despotism, Tyranny Dictatorship VS Autocracy: Dictatorship can mean
rule by one person or by one political body such as a military junta with absolute or near
absolute power. They may have come into power legally or illegally. Tyranny and autocracy are
forms of dictatorship. Usually, dictatorships use every means to retain power. Dictatorship and
Autocracy are similar means have no much difference; however, dictatorship has negative
connotations, whereas autocracy is perceived less evil. An autocrat lacks the personality cult
or charisma of a dictator and this probably restrains him from taking extreme decisions that
could severely hurt his people. Another difference that emerges is that the dictatorship could
be the rule of a particular party or class (such as a single party rule as in Hitler’s Germany, or
the military junta, in Myanmar) while, in autocracy, it is always a single individual who is at the
helm of the affairs.

6. GOVERNMENT & ITS TYPES
10. FEDERALISM:
 Federalism is the mixed or compound mode of government, combining a general
government the central or 'federal' government with regional government’s provincial,
state, cantonal, territorial or other sub-unit governments in a single political system.
Federalism is a system of government in which entities such as states or provinces share
power with a national government. In other words, Federalism is a type of government in
which the power is divided between the national government and other governmental
units. It contrasts with a unitary government, in which a central authority holds the power,
and a confederation, in which states, for example, are clearly dominant. Leading examples
of the federation or federal state include the United States, Canada, Brazil,
Germany, Switzerland, Argentina, Australia and India.
11. COMMUNISM:
 Communism is an economic system in which there is little or no private ownership - property
is held by the community rather than by individuals. All economic activity is controlled by
the government, including things like what crops are grown, what goods are manufactured,
and to whom they are sold and at what prices. The decisions made by Communist
governments are those that are normally made by private individuals in non- Communist
countries. Communist governments are usually a form of totalitarianism, and traditionally
allow only approved candidates to stand for election and there is usually little or no choice
of candidates at an election. Communism is theory or system of social organization in which
all property is owned by the community and each person contributes and receives according
to their ability and needs. Based on the writings of Karl Marx, the concept of
Marxist Communism became very influential in the 20th century because it inspired
the communist revolutions of the Soviet Union, China, Vietnam, Korea, Nicaragua, and Cuba,
among others. Marx was a prolific writer who wrote several books and pamphlets.
12. FASCISM:
 Fascism is a form of government usually headed by a dictator. It involves total government
control of political, economic, cultural, religious and social activities. Some industries may be
owned by individuals, but under government control. This form of government includes
extreme patriotism, warlike policies and extreme discrimination against minority groups.
 Fascism is a form of radical authoritarian nationalism, characterized by dictatorial power,
forcible suppression of opposition and control of industry and commerce that came to
prominence in early 20th-century Europe. The first fascist government was run by Benito
Mussolini in Italy from 1922 until 1943. The governments of Engelbert Dollfuss in Austria and
Adolf Hitler in Germany are also iconic examples of fascism.
13. CONFEDERATION (UNITARY):
A confederation (also known as a confederacy or league) is a union of sovereign states, united
for purposes of common action often in relation to other states. Confederation comes from
the early 15th Century, meaning “an agreement.” Confederation is similar to the word
"federation," but with important differences. Whereas a Federation has a strong
central government, a confederation is more of an agreement between separate bodies to
cooperate with each other. Federal System; Power is shared by a powerful central
government and states or provinces that are given considerable self-rule, usually through
their own legislatures. Examples: The United States, Australia, the Federal Republic of
Germany. Unitary System One central government controls weaker states. Power is not
shared between states, counties, or provinces. Examples: China, United Kingdom (although
Scotland has been granted self-rule). Confederal System weak or loose organization of states

7. GOVERNMENT & ITS TYPES
agrees to follow a powerful central government. Nations can choose to follow or not follow
the lead of the weak central government. Examples: The Commonwealth of Independent
States (CIS), formerly known as the Soviet Union also, Switzerland's canton system and the
Confederate States of America.
14. AUTHORITARIANISM:
 Authoritarianism is a form of government characterized by strong central power and limited
political freedoms. Individual freedoms are subordinate to the state and there is no
constitutional accountability under an authoritarian regime. Less a form of government than
a description, this term connotes an oppressive form of rule in which citizens’ rights are
restricted, putatively for the society’s security and stability. A single head of state often
dominates a country with authoritarian rule, but it’s likely that more than one person has
significant power. All that said, I would argue that the following countries have
unquestionably authoritarian governments: Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, the People's
Republic of China, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Vietnam. Some people from a
conservative perspective would add: Cuba, Egypt, Iran and Venezuela.
OTHER COMMON TERMS
1. Cabal: Ultimately derived from the Hebrew word adopted for the name of the mystical
Kabbalah philosophy of Judaism, cabal refers not to a form of government but to the
machinations of an insurrectionary group, or to the group itself. (By extension, it can refer to
any group outside of the political realm.) The term, thanks to its frequent use by conspiracy
theorists, has an unfortunate association with paranoid delusions about secret societies and
behind-the-scenes manipulation of government affairs.
2. Junta: This term also spelled “Junto” and derived from the Spanish word for “joined,”
refers to a post-revolutionary government and carries a sense of a tightly controlled
government.
3. Tyranny: Tyranny is a condition in which a nation is under the rule of a tyrant, who seized
power illegally and governs with few or no checks and balances. The term was originally a
neutral word meaning “monarchy,” but it acquired the connotation of “despot” and is by
extension often employed to an overbearing authority figure such as a parent or a boss.
4. Regime: The Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary definition of this term — “lawful
control over the affairs of a political unit” — is oddly neutral, considering that the
connotation is invariably of a repressive dictatorship.
THE END